Lanzhou Metro Marks 6 Billion Trips as Network Grows

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Lanzhou’s rapidly expanding metro system has surpassed 6 billion passenger trips, underscoring how the Yellow River city’s rail network is reshaping daily travel patterns and strengthening its role as a transport hub in northwest China.

A Young Network Reaches a Major Milestone

Publicly available figures from March 2026 indicate that Lanzhou Rail Transit’s network has carried more than 6 billion passengers since opening, a rapid climb for a system that only launched Line 1 in 2019. The milestone highlights how quickly residents have adopted the metro as a backbone of everyday mobility in a long, corridor-shaped city constrained by mountains and the Yellow River.

Line 1, which began service in June 2019, was Lanzhou’s first urban rail line and the first metro in China to tunnel beneath the Yellow River. It runs predominantly east to west, connecting major commercial districts, Lanzhou West Railway Station and Lanzhou Railway Station, while easing pressure on surface streets that previously handled most cross-city traffic.

Line 2 followed in mid‑2023, forming a cross-shaped pattern with Line 1 and enabling transfers at key central stations such as Dongfanghong Square and Wulipu. The creation of this “X” configuration has broadened coverage into additional residential areas and employment clusters, lifting the metro’s share of total public transport trips to roughly a quarter of all journeys within the urban core.

Operational statistics released this year show both lines running with high reliability, with train punctuality and schedule fulfillment reportedly near 100 percent. That performance has been crucial in building public trust in a city where, until recently, most long trips relied on buses and private cars along a single main corridor.

Ridership Growth Reshapes Lanzhou’s Daily Commute

Ridership data since 2019 point to a steep and sustained rise in metro usage. After initial demand-building on Line 1, systemwide passenger numbers accelerated once Line 2 entered service, with total annual trips climbing rapidly past the 3‑billion, 4‑billion and 5‑billion thresholds between early 2024 and mid‑2025. By late 2025, the network recorded a single‑day record of more than 770,000 journeys during New Year’s Eve travel.

Daily averages have also shifted significantly. Reports indicate that current weekday ridership across the two lines now exceeds 380,000 passenger trips on a typical day, more than doubling early operation levels and confirming the metro’s status as the primary high‑capacity mode for cross‑city travel.

Travel patterns show especially strong demand at interchange stations and transport hubs. Lanzhou West Railway Station and Lanzhou Railway Station function as gateways for regional and national rail passengers, with the metro providing a fast link into downtown districts. City‑center stops such as Xiguan Shizi, Dongfanghong Square and Wulipu have become dominant transfer points between rail and bus, concentrating retail, services and visitor flows around station precincts.

Peak holiday and festival periods illustrate the metro’s growing role in Lanzhou’s leisure economy. During major events and long weekends, passenger flows surge to destinations like the historic Zhongshan Bridge, the revitalized riverfront at Lanzhou Old Street and large commercial complexes including Wanda Plaza and Mixc, all of which are positioned along the metro corridors.

Integrating Metro, Intercity Rail and Airport Access

Lanzhou’s rail strategy increasingly blends urban metro lines with regional rail links, reflecting the city’s position as a junction between the heartland and western China. The Lanzhou–Zhongchuan Airport intercity railway, already in service between the urban core and Lanzhou Zhongchuan International Airport, connects at Lanzhou West Railway Station and other nodes used by the metro, offering through-journey options for air travelers.

Plans described in recent planning documents indicate that a future Line 5 of Lanzhou Metro is expected to extend urban rail service toward the airport area via Gaolan County. While the corridor remains at the planning stage, the concept would enhance redundancy and create additional high‑capacity options for reaching the rapidly expanding airport complex.

This multi‑layered approach aligns Lanzhou with other Chinese cities that combine metro networks, intercity rail and airport express services into an integrated system. For visitors, the result is a more predictable experience: transfer from high‑speed rail to metro at Lanzhou West, or combine metro and intercity services for a rail‑to‑air connection that minimizes surface congestion and taxi dependence.

The strengthening of rail links is also tied to broader regional strategies in Gansu Province, including ongoing work on the Lanzhou–Hezuo railway and other corridors designed to improve access to minority regions and smaller cities on the Tibetan Plateau’s edge. The metro serves as the urban end of that chain, distributing long‑distance travelers through the city once they arrive.

From Traffic Spine to Urban “Backbone”

Before the metro opened, Lanzhou was known for its linear urban form and heavy reliance on a single east–west road axis along the Yellow River. Bus rapid transit projects had already begun to address congestion, but the arrival of rail transit has provided what local commentary often describes as a more robust “backbone” for the public transport system.

Officially reported figures show that the metro now carries around 25 percent of public transport trips in the main urban districts, relieving pressure on buses and improving travel times on surface routes that no longer bear the full load of commuting traffic. This shift is particularly visible at former congestion hotspots where metro stations now attract transfers from multiple bus lines.

Station environments have evolved as the network has matured. Several key stops, including Lanzhou Railway Station, Lanzhou West Railway Station North Square and major interchange points, have introduced upgraded signage, passenger information and customer-service desks. These facilities are designed to aid first‑time users and visitors, while also supporting elderly passengers and travelers with limited mobility through targeted assistance programs.

At the same time, Lanzhou’s bus operator has been expanding micro‑circulation routes, student shuttles and flexible “reservation” buses to serve neighborhoods beyond walking distance of the metro. This layered network, in which buses feed rail and rail relieves bus corridors, is gradually creating a more coherent public transport grid for residents.

Future Expansion and Tourism Potential

Current long‑term plans foresee a five‑line metro network in Lanzhou, though only Lines 1 and 2 are in operation and the rest remain at various planning stages. If realized, the full system would extend service deeper into suburban districts and toward key development zones, tightening the “one‑hour travel circle” that planners aim to establish across the metropolitan area.

For travelers, the existing network already offers a practical way to reach many of Lanzhou’s signature sights. Line 1 and Line 2 stations link to riverfront promenades, cultural districts and major shopping streets, allowing visitors to combine multiple attractions in a single day without relying on taxis or private cars. Clear wayfinding in both Chinese and English at central hubs further supports independent travel.

The metro’s role in supporting tourism is expected to grow as Lanzhou promotes itself as a gateway to the Hexi Corridor and the wider Silk Road region. Convenient rail access to long‑distance train services and the airport intercity line positions the city as a staging point for journeys onward to destinations such as Zhangye, Dunhuang and Xiahe.

With ridership still climbing, Lanzhou Rail Transit faces the dual challenge of maintaining high reliability while preparing for future extensions and fleet expansions. How the city manages that transition will shape not only local commutes, but also the experience of domestic and international travelers who increasingly rely on the metro as their first introduction to Lanzhou.